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Pistons and Thunder.
They're young and improving, but people may expect too much too soon. I see six playoff spots as locked down pretty tight, so their ceiling is fighting for one of the lower seeds. I don't think 35 wins next year would be a disappointment at all.
Pistons and Thunder.
If the Lakers don't resign Lamar I think they become a huge sleeper. I've already heard a ton of people claiming they won't make it out of the second round, and will be a fourth seed and that there is no way they'll repeat. Look for Bynum to have a breakout year and the Lakers to sneak up on everyone. Don't underestimate the heart of a champion.
Thunder
Wizards
Clippers(not sure)
Warriors
The Cavs they will win 80-2
How in the can the defending champs be considered sleepers? Did L.A change their drug of choice from cocaine to meth after the Lakers won it this year?
Lakers a sleeper?
No sleeper teams this year, maybe the Wizards
well i precisely did not want people to leave out teams simply coz they have been over hyped. In reality thunder have never peformed yet, altho they are set to exceed expectations every year. So actually calling the year, when they break out is no easy task. I jus wanted to see who can correctly pick the team that will improve the most, will pretty much suprise everyone by "actually" doing well next year.
Then I thought bumping the thread to see who got it right would be interesting, to see who actually called the team that would do well.
They won't make the playoffs, but if Thabeet reaches some of his potential this year, the Grizzlies won't be teh major suckage. Still too young.
i like their core but thabeet might take a while to develop based on what i saw in the summer league ...
He showed flashes, but I agree, he's still very raw.
They at least had Ray Allen to trade for another 1st rounder. Also they got Westbrook with the 4th pick the next year and then James Harden with the 4th pick this year.
Cavs used the 10th pick in the 2004 NBA draft on Luke Jackson, one pick after Iggy, they passed on other players like Al Jefferson, Josh Smith and Jammer Nelson. Unlucky that Luke suffered back injuries however they didn't have a 1st round pick in 2005 due to stupid trades years earlier.
Cavs made the playoffs in LeBron's 3rd year, used massive amounts of capspace on disfunctional/overrated players to make those playoffs, too keep LeBron in Cleveland.
Ferry's first try at FA with big money turned out to be bad but he has learned from his mistake. The whole put young talent round LeBron wouldn't work like Sonics/Thunder as there was no young talent taken in drafts after or previously on the team.
Imagine if LeBron had a team like Durants with the 5th pick from the same draft (Wade), the 4th pick from the next year (Livingston, ok bust) then 4th pick the following year (Chris Paul).
Danny Ferry is becoming a much better GM. Smaller signings in FA (Parker, Moon, West's re-signing), the Mo Williams trade, he has to mix the ability to contend, but also the ability to find long-term teammates to play with LeBron, it's a fine line he has to deal with.
Wizards and Bobcats.
As far as winning it all, I think the Lakers will be a sleeper if they lose Odom. Everyone is already counting them out. I guarantee you the majority of people will say there is no way they'll repeat and will pick the Spurs, Nuggets or Blazers to win the West and one of the big three from the east to win the le. Tons of people will sleep on LA and then they'll repeat and everyone will be frantically searching for reasons why it shouldn't count.Lakers a sleeper?
Sleeper? > Wake the up! The Lakers are among probably 4 teams considered legit le contenders....they don't qualify for sleeper....congratulations! .
OKC is the sleeper. They're going to ruin the evenings of a lot of fans of the great teams during the regular season.
That's what I'm saying, they're the sleeper among the le contenders. Once Odom signs with Miami there will be immense talk about how LA won't win , just watch.Sleeper? > Wake the up! The Lakers are among probably 4 teams considered legit le contenders....they don't qualify for sleeper....congratulations! .
Indiana. Their young bigs played well in the Summer league, their injured starters should be healthy to start the season, and Granger is poised to emerge as a superstar. I think they'll improve to the point of grabbing a playoff spot in the East.
Raptors. They are going to have a good regular season record but stink it up in the playoffs cause they play no defense.
Portland. If Oden is healthy, they might nail a 7th seed... watch out!
Thunda' no brainer...
Excuse me, they were the 4th seed last season.
Adding dfensive combo guard Dahntay Jones was a nice under-the-radar signing for them too IMO.
you have a very active imagination ... fyi ...
Clippers and Raptors (both make playoffs or come close)...Everyone is on the WIZ and Thunder's nutz... so they are not really sleepers. Also Wiz were just injured last year. Thunder have Durant who is a budding superstar so they make a Portland type leap and lose in 1st round of playoffs to Spurs or Lakers ...
But Clipper and Raptors will be tough to beat at home this year book it.
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